Former WWE NXT wrestler Danny Burch recently revealed how NXT would change their plans based on AEW Dynamite.
Recently appearing on Cafe De Rene, Martin Stone [Danny Burch in NXT] recalled how NXT would keep an eye on AEW and change their plans at the last moment based on Dynamite.
“It wasn’t until AEW got announced that [NXT] were like, ‘Yeah, this is the greatest day ever! We’re going live!’ And it was obviously an attempt to try and compete with AEW. It was always funny because everyone’s like, ‘Man, we’re going to crush them.’ Because Shawn [Michaels] used to say, ‘Oh well, you’re just working guys that we didn’t want,’ and blah, blah. And I’m sitting there in the back thinking, ‘Well, actually, no. Technically, we’re going up against the likes of Chris Jericho and people like that.’ And they weren’t concerned with what we were doing,” Burch shared.
AEW Dynamite debuted in October 2019 and straight away went head-to-head with WWE NXT. NXT started airing on the USA Network two weeks before AEW began on TNT. Dynamite and NXT famously clashed on Wednesdays. After a regular clash from 2019 to 2021, the Wednesday night war stopped, and NXT moved to Tuesdays.
“We would have two TVs in Gorilla, and they would be watching AEW, and then they would be trying to change the show to compete with what they were doing. I’ll never forget, me and my tag partner [Oney Lorcan],” Burch continued. “We were scheduled to have a 30-minute main event, and I was really excited about it. We had three segments. We’re the Tag Champs, we were gonna get to go out there and really kill it.
“And then because they were watching [AEW Dynamite] and they heard that there was a women’s match on first, they cut us to 10 minutes with entrances and said, ‘You guys are gonna go on first so we can steal the opening.’ So when they turned around said, ‘We were never in competition,’ you’re full of it. Yes, you were,” Burch finished.
Burch, 44, held the NXT Tag Team titles with Oney Lorcan once during his time in WWE NXT.
Both NXT Tag Team titles are on the line next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions The New Day will defend the titles against Briggs and Jensen, while Kayden Carter and Katana Chance will defend the Women’s Tag Team titles in a three-way against Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley.
Additionally, Carmelo Hayes will face Axiom, Zoey Stark will take on Nikkita Lyons, and Apollo Crews will return after his loss at NXT Deadline this past Saturday.
The New Day came out during Tuesday’s show to celebrate their title win when Pretty Deadly interrupted, wanting a rematch. The New Day said they would consider it if they could recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Briggs and Jensen came out and did just that, earning themselves a title match.
A match between Dolin & Jayne vs. Nile & Paxley that took place Tuesday ended when the three teams ended up brawling. Later in the show, the three teams fought again, with officials having to separate them.
Here is the lineup for next week’s NXT:
NXT Tag Team titles: The New Day defend against Briggs and Jensen
NXT Women’s Tag Team titles: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defend against Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley
After five months out of action, Danny Burch returned from injury on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Burch made his return after Ridge Holland defeated Timothy Thatcher on NXT tonight. When Tommaso Ciampa went to check on Thatcher after the match, a brawl broke out and Ciampa initially got the better of Holland and Pete Dunne. But Oney Lorcan and Burch then pulled Ciampa out of the ring and attacked him. Ciampa tried to fight back until being laid out with a headbutt by Holland.
Holland also left Thatcher laying after hitting him in the throat with a club.
Burch suffered a separated shoulder while teaming with Lorcan against Finn Balor & Karrion Kross on NXT this March. Lorcan & Burch were NXT Tag Team Champions at the time but had to vacate the titles due to injury. MSK won the vacant titles at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April.
Lorcan & Burch called themselves the rightful NXT Tag Team Champions during a promo that aired later on tonight’s NXT. Dunne also spoke during the promo and vowed to take the NXT Championship from Samoa Joe. Dunne had confronted Joe earlier in the show.
Ciampa vs. Holland will take place on next Tuesday’s NXT. It was said tonight that Thatcher is out of action indefinitely following Holland’s attack.
Sterling (formerly known as Alex Zayne) and Hale (Anthony Henry) are both new additions to the 205 Live roster. Sterling was part of the group of signees that joined the WWE Performance Center last December, while Hale joined the Performance Center this February.
Sterling made his WWE debut by defeating Samir Singh on 205 Live three weeks ago. He lost to Nese the following week but then defeated Hale on last Friday’s show.
Hale’s WWE debut was a loss against Cameron Grimes on NXT three weeks ago. On 205 Live, Hale has defeated Daivari but lost to Sterling.
In storyline, Nese and Daivari are the veterans of 205 Live who don’t like newcomers to the brand. Nese & Daivari were most recently in action on NXT last week, losing to Hit Row’s Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis.
Due to an injury suffered by Danny Burch, the NXT Tag Team titles have been declared vacant.
Burch & Oney Lorcan retained the NXT Tag Team titles against NXT Champion Finn Balor & Karrion Kross in the main event of last week’s NXT, but Burch suffered a separated shoulder during the match. Medical personnel checked on Burch after the injury and he never returned to the match. After Balor gave Lorcan a dropkick that accidentally knocked Lorcan into Scarlett, Kross attacked Balor. Lorcan then pinned Balor after hitting a running uppercut.
NXT general manager William Regal posted a tweet today confirming Burch’s injury. Regal announced that the NXT Tag Team titles have been vacated. Regal will give a further update on the status of the titles on this Wednesday’s episode of NXT.
“I can confirm this incredibly unfortunate news and make the difficult decision to vacate the #WWENXT Tag Team Titles,” Regal tweeted. “Furthermore, I will address the state of the titles further tomorrow night on @WWENXT.
Burch & Lorcan had been NXT Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Breezango in October of last year.
MSK won this year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and were next in line for a title shot against Burch & Lorcan. MSK were supposed to get their NXT Tag Team title shot earlier this month, but that match was delayed due to MSK’s Wes Lee suffering a broken hand during the Dusty Classic finals. In storyline, Lee’s injury was blamed on an attack by The Grizzled Young Veterans. MSK had defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans in the Dusty Classic finals.
In Wednesday’s NXT main event, Danny Burch separated his right shoulder during a tag team match with Oney Lorcan against NXT Champion Finn Balor and Karrion Kross.
Lorcan and Burch were going to deliver a suplex to Kross who then reversed it for his own double suplex. However, Burch didn’t get up all the way and fell awkwardly on his right shoulder on the rotation as he came down to the mat.
As the show went to break, the 39-year-old was taken to the outside of the ring for medical assistance. Lorcan took over and worked the rest of the way, eventually winning the match for the reigning NXT Tag Team champions. The announce team acknowledged the injury, but he never returned.
Ironically, Kross was out of action for nearly five months last year after suffering his own separated shoulder injury that cost him the NXT title.
As of this writing, neither Burch or Lorcan have posted anything about the injury on social media, nor has WWE given an update. Burch and Lorcan won the titles last October with a victory over Breezango and an extended absence would likely mean the belts would be vacated.
NXT Champion Finn Balor and his next challenger Karrion Kross were briefly partners as they teamed up in the main event of last night’s NXT.
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch retained their NXT Tag Team titles by defeating Balor & Kross on last night’s show. During the match, Balor gave Lorcan a shotgun dropkick on the outside that knocked him into Scarlett. Kross then attacked Balor and threw him into the ring, with Lorcan connecting with an uppercut on Balor and pinning him to get the win.
Kross destroyed Lorcan with two Doomsday Saito suplexes after the match and then beat down Balor. Kross put Balor in the Kross Jacket before laying him out with an elbow strike. Scarlett told Balor that everything happens for a reason and he can’t escape fate.
It was confirmed last night that Balor will defend his NXT Championship against Kross at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver next month. A confrontation between Balor and Kross opened last night’s show until they were interrupted by Lorcan and Burch.
Burch suffered a shoulder injury in last night’s main event and didn’t return to the match.
Though not officially announced, Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Raquel Gonzalez, NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER vs. Tommaso Ciampa, and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar vs. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin also look to be planned for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver following last night’s NXT. TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is a two night-event that’s taking place on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8.
Though their scheduled title defense is off, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will still be in action on this week’s episode of NXT.
WWE has announced that NXT Tag Team Champions Lorcan & Burch will face Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher in a non-title match on NXT this Wednesday. Lorcan & Burch were originally set to defend their titles against men’s Dusty Classic winners MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) on the episode, but that is unable to take place due to Lee suffering a broken hand.
WWE posted a video on Tuesday night where Lorcan & Burch confronted MSK as they were being interviewed about Lee’s injury. Ciampa then approached Lorcan & Burch and challenged them to a match against him and Thatcher. Lorcan & Burch said they’ll face anyone, but only a select few can get an NXT Tag Team title shot. Ciampa said it would be non-title because giving him and Thatcher a title match would require Lorcan & Burch to have a set of bollocks.
After Thatcher defeated Ciampa in a Fight Pit match, the former rivals became partners as they teamed together in this year’s men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Ciampa & Thatcher made it to the semifinals of the tournament before losing to The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake).
MSK defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans in the men’s Dusty Classic finals at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day last month, but Lee suffered a broken hand during the match. There was a backstage segment where The Grizzled Young Veterans attacked MSK on NXT last week, with it being claimed that Lee suffered his broken hand when The Grizzled Young Veterans used steel chairs in the attack.
This week’s NXT will also feature Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defending their titles against women’s Dusty Classic winners Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez.
WWE has revealed when the men’s and women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners will be getting their title shots.
Both title matches will be taking place on the Wednesday, March.3 episode of NXT. Men’s Dusty Classic winners MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will challenge for Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles, while women’s Dusty Classic winners Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez will challenge for Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler’s WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.
At TakeOver: Vengeance Day on Sunday, MSK defeated The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) in the men’s Dusty Classic finals and Kai & Gonzalez defeated Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in the women’s Dusty Classic finals. A trophy presentation for both teams took place on NXT tonight. It included Jax & Baszler appearing for a confrontation with Kai & Gonzalez.
MSK (former Rascalz Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) made their NXT debut in this year’s men’s Dusty Classic. They defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas in the first round of the tournament, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain in the quarterfinals, Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde in the semifinals, and The Grizzled Young Veterans in the finals.
Kai & Gonzalez defeated Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in the first round of the women’s Dusty Classic, Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter in the semifinals, and Blackheart & Moon in the finals.
NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly teamed up on last night’s episode of NXT.
Balor & O’Reilly defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match in last night’s main event. Pete Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch attacked Balor and O’Reilly after the match, with Dunne snapping Balor’s fingers. Adam Cole and Roderick Strong ran down to make the save, then Balor found himself side-by-side with Undisputed Era as they stared down Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch.
Balor defending his NXT Championship against Dunne appears to be the direction for NXT’s next TakeOver special on Sunday, February 14. The build to a possible Women’s title match at that event also continued with Toni Storm, NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai, and Mercedes Martinez taking part in a three-way brawl last night.
The quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic began with MSK defeating Drake Maverick & Killian Dain and The Grizzled Young Veterans defeating Kushida & Leon Ruff. NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory attacked Kushida and Ruff after their loss until being scared off by Dexter Lumis.
Plus, Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez booked their spot in the women’s Dusty Classic semifinals by defeating Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in a first round match last night.
NXT Champion Finn Balor has enlisted the help of his most recent title challenger for tonight’s episode of NXT.
Balor & Kyle O’Reilly will team up against NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match. On NXT two weeks ago, O’Reilly and Undisputed Era came to Balor’s aid after he was attacked by Pete Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. Balor then helped O’Reilly when he was attacked by Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch later in the night.
Balor went to NXT general manager William Regal last week and said he wants to face Dunne, but he knows the game Dunne is playing. Balor wanted to face Lorcan & Burch first, but Regal told Balor he would have to find a partner. After initially saying he only has enemies now, Balor said there were some people around here who owed him a favor. Balor went to Undisputed Era and asked if O’Reilly was in to team with him. O’Reilly agreed.
The quarterfinals of the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will kick off with Kushida & Leon Ruff vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans and MSK vs. Drake Maverick & Killian Dain taking place tonight. The first round of the women’s Dusty Classic will continue with Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Aliyah & Jessi Kamea.
Plus, Santos Escobar will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Curt Stallion. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show opened with a Dusty Classic tournament match.
MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) defeated Drake Maverick & Killian Dain to advance in the Dusty Classic tournament
Carter pinned Maverick, and MSK advances to the semifinals.
As the match got going, MSK cut off Maverick and kept him in their corner. Quicks tags and teamwork by MSK. Hot tag to Dain, and he cleaned house. Teamwork by Maverick & Dain with double-team moves. Nearfall broken up by Lee.
MSK cuts off Dain and they look to capitalize, but Dain hulked up. Dain shoved Lee off the turnbuckles, and Lee tumbles to the floor before a the show goes to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
Maverick & Dain work over Lee during the commercial break. They were still in control when the show returned from the break. Hot tag to Carter, and he was on fire. MSK with their assisted standing moonsault. Carter with an Asai moonsault to the floor.
Lee rolled up by Maverick for a two count, and Maverick soon eats a back elbow. Tag to Carter and MSK execute their Hart Attack/Blockbuster combo. Carter then covered Maverick for a pinfall.
The NXT Tag Team Champions arrived at the building. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan are in the main event later on tonight.
Curt Stallion had a sit-down interview conducted by McKenzie Mitchell. Stallion talked about making towns from West Texas to Chicago. I saw him in some of those Texas towns. He talked about seeing shooting stars and following that stardom, or something like that. He will get a rocket strapped to his back, and the “Lone Star” will become a Superstar.
Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai defeated Jessi Kamea & Aliyah (with Robert Stone) to advance in the Women’s Dusty Classic
Gonzalez pinned Kamea in this first round match. Gonzalez & Kai move on to the quarterfinals.
Aliyah tried to match-up with Gonzalez, but she soon tagged it. Kamea soon found herself tied up by Gonzalez in a Gory Special. Kamea escaped to fire up on Gonzalez, but Kai caused a distraction. Kai tagged in, but Kamea soon scoop slammed her. Kai was reeling after teamwork by The Robert Stone Brand.
Aliyah went for a baseball slide, but Gonzalez pulled Kai to safety. Aliyah then ran into a high kick from Gonzalez. Power moves by Gonzalez for a near fall. Kai with a face wash for a two count. Assisted double stomp by Kai for another two count.
Kai caught with a swinging DDT, allowing Aliyah to tag out. Kamea jumped into the ring, but she ran right into a lariat from Gonzalez. Kamea then took a chokeslam bomb by Gonzalez, and Gonzalez covered her for a pinfall.
Rust won via submission. The match was mostly all Rust, except when he became distracted by his own manager. Rust quickly came back with a Rings of Saturn to submit someone possibly named Rios.
Bivens took a selfie after the match.
Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) defeated Leon Ruff & Kushida to advance in the Dusty Classic
Drake pinned Ruff, and Grizzled Young Veterans advacne to the semifinals.
The Vets had an early advantage, but Kushida & Ruff soon fired up into a series of double-team moves. Drake & Gibson were reeling as the show went to a commercial break.
Heat on Ruff after the break as The Vets kept him from making a tag. Finally, Ruff was able to tag out. Kushida flew into the ring off a hot tag, and he was on fire. The Vets traded places, and Kushida tied up Gibson too.
Kushida cut off, and he takes a Doomsday Device! Kushida managed to kick out for a near fall. Handspring back elbow takes down The Vets.
Ruff flew into action with with springboard missile. He then sailed through the ropes with a tope suicida. Ruff launched himself off the turnbuckles for flip dive to the floor. However, Ruff missed a swanton bomb.
Ruff takes a Ticket To Mayhem, and Drake covered Ruff for a pinfall.
Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory attacked Kushida & Ruff after the match. The Way jumped them, and Kushida was laid out by Gargano. Dexter Lumis appeared at ringside, and that frightened Theory.
Curt Stallion was supposedly attacked backstage. William Regal asked him what happened, and Stallion blamed El Legado del Fantasma. The match for the NXT Cruiserweight title is now off. Champion Santos Escobar was being interviewed backstage when Regal confronted him. Regal said Esobar will defend against Stallion next week, and if Stallion is attacked again there will be “serious consequences” for the rudos.
Toni Storm during an in-ring promo talked about NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai. Storm wanted to become the first person to win the Women’s Dusty Cup, but Shirai took that from her (when Shirai attacked her in a match last week). Stormed vowed revenge, and she also is looking to become the champion.
Shirai came to the ring to confront Storm. Shirai said she will fight her anywhere, and Shirai said she did not like Storm. They started to brawl, and Shirai knocked Storm out of the ring. Mercedes Martinez in a sneak attack jumped Shirai. Martinez with a tree slam, but Shirai made a comeback with springboard missile dropkick.
The brawling continued, and Storm delivered several hip attacks on Shirai. She grapped the belt, and Storm posed with it while Shirai was down selling.
A vignette focused on Imperium.
Undisputed Era were interviewed backstage about their tournament tag match next week. Adam Cole & Roderick Strong were very confident they will defeat Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher.
Bronson Reed defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Reed pinned Scott after a splash off the top.
Scott very aggressive at the start until he was tripped up on the apron. Reed flew through the ropes with a tope suicida before a commercial break. Impressive. Somehow, Scott was in control when the show returned from the break. Miraculous.
Reed soon swatted away Scott as he blocked Scott’s attempted flatliner. Reed with a Death Valley Driver, but Scott managed to kick out.
Scott cut off Reed when he climbed the turnbuckles. Scott fell backwards with an avalanche shoulder breaker on Reed. Scott with a 450 splash for a near fall.
Reed hulked up and dropped Scott with a headbutt. Superfly Splash off the top rope, and Reed covered Scott for the pinfall.
Tommaso Ciampa was cutting a promo when Timothy Thatcher pulled up a chair beside him. They vowed to defeat Undisputed Era next week in a Dusty Classic tournament match.
NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan in a non-title match
O’Reilly submitted Burch to win the match. A brawl erupted after the match when Pete Dunne showed up.
Great grappling and mat wrestling from the outset. Back-and-forth action with quick tags by both teams. Burch & Lorcan took a powder as the show went to a picture-in-picture commerial break. The action didn’t let up, even during a smaller split-screen.
Burch & Lorcan began to get heat on O’Reilly. They looked to target his injured jaw. Balor came in to clean house, but he was soon trapped in a corner. Balor suffered a shoulder breaker done by Lorcan. The heel tag champs worked over the singles champion.
Balor was eventually able to create separation. Hot tag to O’Reilly, and he mowed down the heels with kicks. Burch tried to fight back. He went up to the middle rope, and Burch leapt off into a missile dropkick. O’Reilly caught him upon impact, and O’Reilly had him trapped in a heel hook. Burch tapped out.
Normally the champions losing a non-title match would set up a tag title bout. Maybe not here, as the focus was more on an upcoming singles title match.
Pete Dunne hit the ring to brawl with Balor. Lorcan & Burch helped to jump Balor. O’Reilly tried to make a save, but the numbers were too great to overcome. Dunne knocked down Balor with a cheap shot. Dunne also snapped Balor’s fingers.
Adam Cole & Roderick Strong ran in to make a save, and the heels fled the ring. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch had a staredown with Undisputed Era as the show went off the air.
Next week’s NXT will feature NXT Champion Finn Balor teaming up with his most recent title challenger.
On tonight’s NXT, it was announced that Balor & Kyle O’Reilly will face NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in a non-title match next Wednesday.
Pete Dunne, Lorcan & Burch confronted Balor on NXT last week. Dunne said Balor told him to get in line for a title shot, but he’s not waiting anymore. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch attacked Balor until O’Reilly and then the rest of Undisputed Era ran out to make the save. Dunne, Lorcan & Burch also attacked O’Reilly at ringside during last week’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong vs. Breezango main event. Balor tried to get involved and fight off Dunne, Lorcan & Burch, but he and O’Reilly were both laid out.
Balor went to NXT general manager William Regal on tonight’s show and said he wants to face Dunne, but he knows the game Dunne is playing. Balor asked Regal to let him start with Lorcan & Burch. Regal responded by telling Balor that he wasn’t going to let him face Lorcan & Burch on his own. Balor said he doesn’t have friends anymore — all he has is enemies. Regal reminded Balor of the old saying to keep your enemies closer.
Balor later went to Undisputed Era and asked O’Reilly if he’s in to team with him next week. O’Reilly agreed and the match was made official.
Balor retained his NXT Championship against O’Reilly at both TakeOver 31 in October and New Year’s Evil earlier this month.
Here’s what’s been announced for next week’s NXT:
Non-title match: NXT Champion Finn Balor & Kyle O’Reilly vs. NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar defends against Curt Stallion
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line in a street fight this coming Wednesday night.
WWE has announced that NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch will defend their titles against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick in a street fight on Wednesday’s NXT. Both teams were part of a four-way brawl on the most recent episode of NXT.
Lorcan & Burch accompanied Pete Dunne to the ring for his match against Kyle O’Reilly on NXT this week. O’Reilly was accompanied by Adam Cole & Roderick Strong. But before the bell rang, Dain & Maverick attacked Lorcan & Burch and a brawl broke out. Cole & Strong and Breezango also got involved and the four teams brawled to the back.
Pat McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan & Burch interrupted a match between Dain & Maverick and Ever-Rise on NXT last month. Dain ended up having a car door slammed into his head by Dunne. Dain lost to Dunne on NXT last week after being distracted by Lorcan & Burch attacking Maverick at ringside.
Lorcan & Burch have been NXT Tag Team Champions since aligning with McAfee and winning the titles from Breezango on the October 21 episode of NXT.
For this coming Wednesday’s show, WWE has also announced that NXT Champion Finn Balor and O’Reilly will “both take a special look back” at their title match from TakeOver 31. Balor retained against O’Reilly in that match but broke his jaw in two places. O’Reilly defeated Dunne on NXT this week to become the number one contender to the NXT Championship. O’Reilly will challenge Balor for the title at NXT New Year’s Evil on Wednesday, January 6.
Here’s the updated lineup for Wednesday’s NXT:
A Very Gargano Christmas
NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defend against Killian Dain & Drake Maverick in a street fight
NXT Champion Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly look back at their title match from TakeOver 31
The Undisputed Era are officially set to face off with Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in WarGames.
After tonight’s episode of NXT went off the air, WWE uploaded a video with NXT general manager William Regal announcing that Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) will face McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan & Burch in a WarGames match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames next month. The event is taking place on Sunday, December 6.
Tonight’s NXT ended with Undisputed Era making their return and brawling with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch. All four members of Undisputed Era had been attacked by McAfee and his associates in recent weeks.
In the main event segment of tonight’s NXT episode, NXT Champion Finn Balor made his return for the first time since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw last month. McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch interrupted Balor and surrounded him. Balor said it’s easy for the mice to play while the cat’s away, but the cat is back and look what he’s just dragged in. The lights then went out and Undisputed Era appeared. They brawled with McAfee, Dunne, Lorcan, and Burch as the show went off the air.
WarGames will be McAfee’s second-ever professional wrestling match. The former All-Pro NFL punter made his in-ring debut in a loss to Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX this August.
Undisputed Era have been part of every men’s WarGames match that has taken place in NXT. TakeOver: WarGames has been held annually since 2017.
This is the second WarGames match that’s been announced for next month’s TakeOver event. Shotzi Blackheart and Candice LeRae will be the captains of the two teams in this year’s women’s WarGames match.
Three title matches will be taking place on tonight’s episode of NXT.
Johnny Gargano has vowed to break his title defense curse and successfully defend the NXT North American Championship tonight. Gargano promised to face a “worthy opponent” that will be determined by the Wheel of Challengers.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line as Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch defend against Breezango. Breezango are getting their rematch for the titles after losing them to Lorcan & Burch three weeks ago. Lorcan & Burch aligned with Pat McAfee and got help from him to win the titles. McAfee, Lorcan, Burch & Pete Dunne are now calling themselves the Kings of NXT.
Santos Escobar defends his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Jak
e Atlas. Atlas has been out for vengeance against Legado del Fantasma since Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde cost him a non-title match against Escobar two weeks ago.
After Candice LeRae got involved in her match last week, Toni Storm will face LeRae tonight. Storm defeated Shotzi Blackheart last Wednesday after Blackheart was distracted by LeRae appearing on the video screen. LeRae then destroyed Blackheart’s tank.
Plus, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Xia Li is set for tonight’s show. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show opened with a Veteran’s Day video.
Gargano opened the show in the ring. He revealed a wheel of challengers, telling people in the crowd to “respect the wheel”. He admitted that the first time he won and defended the title, he lost. But then he became NXT Champion. He eventually spun the wheel and somehow, it landed on a spot with “Leon Ruff” written hastily on white paper. And thus, the match began.
Leon Ruff defeated Johnny Gargano to win the NXT North American title
This was kind of a squash match (until the finish) but Ruff looked good in the spots he was given. This was far more about Damien Priest and Gargano.
Gargano dominated early, chopping Ruff in the corner. Ruff avoided a charge, switched positions around the turnbuckles and dropped Gargano with a dropkick. Gargano regained heat by throwing Ruff off the apron into the steel steps.
Gargano continued the assault outside the ring, throwing Ruff into the cage containing the crowd nearby. Damien Priest then appeared. Gargano initially mocked Priest, but when Priest emerged outside of the cage area, Gargano re-entered the ring.
Ruff tried to gain on this by rolling up Gargano, but Gargano kicked out. Gargano instead lawn-darted Ruff in the corner. He mocked Priest long enough for Ruff to counter with a crucifix bomb to pin Gargano and in the title. Yes, Leon Ruff has won the title.
Gargano was stunned by this development, to say the least. Ruff put the championship around his waist to celebrate, but as the referee held his hand up, the belt fell down, as you see, he’s very skinny.
Leon Ruff was being interviewed when Damien Priest came up to him and told him to take the black Challenger outside. Ruff exited as Gargano came in pissed and had to be restrained. Gargano acted like he never came up with the wheel stipulation in the first place.
In a WWE Network exclusive, Jake Atlas said he was tired of the numbers game. He got out of his car and attacked Legando del Fantasma with a pipe.
Santos Escobar defeated Jake Atlas to retain the NXT Cruiserweight title
This was perfectly fine, but nothing overwhelmingly great. A really good TV title match. There were a lot of things I liked about Atlas that seem lost in translation when going into the WWE Universe, and I will leave it at that.
Escobar controlled early. Atlas made a comeback. One of Legando del Fantasma tried to use the crowbar while Atlas was on the apron, but Atlas fended off both men. He got a nearfall with a springboard blockbuster.
Back from commercial, Escobar was back on offense as Legado del Fantasma tripped up Atlas during the break, and were thrown out. Escobar propped up Atlas and hit a hurricanrana off the top rope, followed by a frog splash. Atlas made a comeback, hitting a hurricanrana of his own. Escaobar, however, got heat back after pushing Atlas off the top rope and into the announcer’s table ringside. Escobar then threw Atlas into the steel steps.
Atlas came back with a dive, then followed in the ring with a rollup for a near fall. Escobar dropped Atlas into the middle rope then cut him off with a superkick. Atlas came back and tried for the cartwheel DDT, but Santos blocked it, double hooked the arms and drove Atlas face first into his knee, pinning Atlas to retain the championship.
Dexter Lumis was shown completing a drawing of Cameron Grimes running away from a zombie referee while Raquel Gonzalez was walking to the ring.
A video package was shown of Candice LeRae destroying Shotzi Blackheart’s tank. Blackheart said she wasn’t looking for payback or revenge, she was looking to kick Candice’s ass.
Gonzalez came out to the ring, but when it was time for Xia Li to come out, Boa arrived instead. Boa told Gonzalez that Li would not be able to wrestle her. Gonzalez was pissed and kicked Boa straight up in the temple. She threw him around ringside before throwing him back into the ring and delivering a big boot and a one-armed powerbomb.
The lights then went out and an image of a Chinese dragon appeared. An old guy came to the ring and delivered Boa a note. He then put black marking on his hand before leaving. Boa sold his hand like the marking had some sort of power on him.
August Grey was about to explain why he confronted Timothy Thatcher last week when Thatcher jumped him and applied a front facelock. He then threw Grey into Lumis’ drawing. Lumis stared at him.
Candice LeRae defeated Toni Storm
This was one of the better matches of the night. There was some good wrestling, save for the cheap finish.
Things started off with some chain wrestling. Storm held on and applied an armbar. Storm continued to build up momentum until she went for a running hip toss, but instead went into the steel steps, giving an opening to LeRae.
Back from break, Storm cut off LeRae as both tried to recover. Storm hit a fisherman’s suplex, She went to the top rope, but LeRae met her there and went for a twisting neckbreaker, but didn’t catch her. Storm countered with a legdrop off the top rope, but LeRae dodged. LeRae tripped Storm into the turnbuckle then rolled her up, pinning her using the ropes for leverage.
Storm attacked LeRae after the match when the Scream person came out and helped her assault Storm. Blackheart came out to even the odds, but the Scream person laid her out with a kick. The Scream person then took off the Scream mask, revealing….Indi Hartwell. Hartwell and LeRae posed in the ring, cementing her alliance.
Breezango said it would not be fun Breezango coming out. Breeze promised they would regain the titles.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Dexter Lumis
This was fine. I was expecting a lot worse, but it was just your typical WWE TV match.
Lumis immediately took down Thatcher with a Thesz press as Thatcher recovered on the outside. Lumis gained control, putting Thatcher in a submission. He then laid out Thatcher with a spinebuster, but favored his arm after. He hit a dropkick and sent Thatcher to the floor. Thatcher regained control outside of the ring, but Lumis started to make a comeback until Thatcher shoved Lumis bad arm first into the post.
Back from commercial, Lumis cut off Thatcher and went to the top rope slowly. Thatcher cut him off with a European uppercut, but Lumis shoved him off and hit a swanton bomb. Thatcher shoved Lumis into Cameron Grimes, who was on the apron, then rolled him up for the win.
Grimes jumped Lumis after the match, but Lumis rose and stared down Grimes. He went for the attack, but Grimes cut him off and choked him with a burlap sack. He then connected with a knee into the corner. Lumis tried to fight back with a chair, but ended up sitting in it as Grimes laid him out with a double foot stomp. Grimes told Lumis that he wasn’t scared of him.
Gargano told William Regal he had calmed down and wanted to reverse the results. Regal told him no. Gargano was mad and said it was a goof, a joke. Regal said the decision stood and Leon Ruff is the new North American champion. Gargano didn’t like hearing that.
Ciampa promo. He mentioned that he has been in this business for 16 years and remembers being trained by the likes of Harley Race and Killer Kowalski. He said times have certainly changed, and everyone is talking. Bark enough and people begin to feel to their bite. He never thought he would be the last of a dying breed, but this culture, the 2020 locker room culture, is going to change. Ciampa is that change.
They aired a Prime Target segment covering the rivalry between Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley. That match will take place next week.
Pat McAfee. Pete Dunne, Danny Burch, and Oney Lorcan came out. McAfree put over Pete Dunne attacking Roderick Strong and Killian Dain. He talked about getting text messages from Tom Brady and others as he headed to Florida, thinking about what he was going to say. He buried the announce team and finished the promo by saying “let’s do this”. He’s really great in this role.
Cameron Grimes was elated about laying out Dexter Lumis. He said he was afraid of him, but then he covered him up Lumis’ creepy eyes. He said he was going somewhere where he’s gotta be, very happy about his actions.
NXT Champion Finn Balor, who has been out with an injured jaw, will appear on next week’s show.
Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan defeated Breezango to retain the NXT Tag Team titles
Good main event. The McAfee stable act immediately has some good main event level presence. After months of feeling forgotten, the tag team division in NXT seems to be shaping up.
Burch and Lorcan immediately started by taking Breezango outside of the ring to the floor. Fandango manages to get the upper hand on Burch as he tagged in Breeze. He hit a snap suplex and tagged in Lorcan, who was taken to the corner and worked over by Breezango. Burch was thrown into McAfee, who was at the announcer’s table, as they headed to the break.
Burch worked over Breeze while commercials ran. McAfee was at ringside as Breezango regained control. Fandango went for a sunset flip powerbomb on Lorcan, but when McAfee tried to catch the referee’s attention, Drake Maverick came in and laid out Lorcan, letting Fandango hit the top rope leg drop for a nearfall.
Dunne came in and sent McAfee into the ring so he could send Breeze off the apron. Burch it tagged in, which Fandango didn’t see. Burch headbutted Fandango, allowing him to be set up for an elevated DDT, giving the win to the champions.
Everyone came in to celebrate, but Drake Maverick came in for the attack. He was quickly cut off as Dunne lifted him up and slammed him on the announcer’s table. Breezango came in for the save, but were both cut off. They set it up so McAfee could connect with a running knee into the face of Breeze, who was propped up on the announcers table. The show ended with McAfee adjusting the camera to show what was left of Breezango and Maverick.
